You know the meme, but do you know the story behind “Keep Calm and Carry On”?

Sometimes an image is so ubiquitous that you stop seeing it entirely.

It sits on coffee mugs, baby clothes, and cheap tote bags, staring back at us from gift shop windows around the world.

And you have certainly seen countless memes based on the “Keep Calm and Carry On” message, with variations such as “Keep Calm and Drink Coffee” or “Keep Calm and Stay Positive”.

But there is a good chance you do not know the origin of the meme — and an even better chance you do not know how the famous slogan is connected to World War II.

A hidden history

According to the University of London, a British government department created the concept during the summer of 1939. This group later became the legendary Ministry of Information.

Officials wanted a clear message that communicated sober restraint. They printed nearly two and a half million posters in preparation for war.

Then the plan changed completely. The design was never officially released to the public, and almost every single copy was recycled in 1940 because the government faced a paper shortage.

Only a tiny handful survived the pulping machines.

Second life

The poster remained completely unknown for decades. That changed in 2000 when someone stumbled across an original copy inside a bookshop in Northumberland.

Almost immediately, vendors started selling reproductions to eager customers. It became a massive global trend within a matter of months.

So now you have a bit of “Did-you-know” trivia to impress your friends and colleagues – or get labeled as a know-it-all.

Sources: University of London

This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, who may have used AI in the preparation